Medha Patkar on strike, critical

[echarcha]

Medha Patkar on strike, critical

http://specials.rediff.com/news/2006/apr/04lead.jpg Miss Tree-hugger Green activist is in critical condition. Why does she not get it? We need power plants and dams and all such infrastructure for growing our economy and helping people enjoy the fruits of electricity.

I sincerely wish Ms. Patkar well and hope that she stops this hunger fast and gets well soon. Her death will really amount to nothing but a few moments in media frenzy over Narmada dam and thats about it.

Anyway, just reporting the news....



Sheela Bhatt in New Delhi | April 03, 2006 19:10 IST

Medha Patkar, the Narmada Bachao Andolan leader, is in a critical condition.

She and two of her NBA colleagues are on indefinite hunger strike outside Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to protest destruction of lives and livelihoods in the Narmada valley since March 29. Although the fast is in its sixth day it has not been able to move the central government.

Patkar's blood pressure has been unstable for the last three days but the United Progressive Alliance government has ignored their agitation and her deteriorating health.

Rozario Clifton, an NBA associate, told rediff.com, "Medha is critically unwell. All of us are waiting for the government's response. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had promised us that he will respond to our demands but so far we haven't heard anything from him."

The Rediff Interview: Medha Patkar (http://ia.rediff.com/news/2000/apr/28guj.htm)

On March 8, the Narmada Control Authority gave clearance for the height of the Sardar Sarovar Dam to be raised from 110.64 metres to 121.92 metres.

Since March 17, adivasis and farmers of the Narmada Valley have been sitting on a peaceful dharna in Delhi because they think 'this clearance, given on the basis of untrue reports and false claims of the government, will cause the destruction of the homes, fields and lives in about 220 villages in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. This decision is not just a blatant violation of Supreme Court orders, but makes a mockery of the human rights of lakhs of people still living in the submergence area.'
Clifton said, "By sitting on dharna we are asking the government to tell us if they want to follow the rule of the land or not."

As per the law, all the concerned state governments are required to ensure that every single affected family is resettled at least six months before submergence, offering equivalent cultivable land and resettling them sites provided with all civic amenities. But the activists allege that Maharashtra government is fudging with figures and the MP government too is not following proper procedures.

Jamsing Nargave from village Amlali in Badwani district (MP), Bhagwatibai Jatpuria from village Nissarpur in Dhar district (MP) and Medha Patkar are on hunger strike on the footpath opposite Jantar Mantar. This is where people seeking justice from the central government come to protest from all over India.

There is not even a decent bathroom available to the activists. Activists who have come from different parts of Narmada valley are using facilities in a nearby Gurudwara.

Nargave, who is showing weakness due to six days of fasting, told rediff.com, "Who cares for us? Why don't people listen to us? We want the government to hear our plea and give us justice."
Due to the Sardar Sarovar dam, 19 villages are to be submerged from Gujarat, 33 in Maharashtra, (these are 100 per cent tribal) and 193 in MP.

The number of people ousted is 2 to 2.5 lakhs, according to figures available in Parliament.

Jatpuria says, "I am fasting because this monsoon 32 acres of my land will be submerged. We have not been offered any land in lieu of it. Our tragedy is that not a single survey is done in our area by Madhya Pradesh government."

Raiji Deva, a farmer from Gadher village, which was submerged almost a decade back, told rediff.com, "I had accepted the relief and rehabilitation package offered by Gujarat government but we were cheated because I was not given as much land as promised."

Although Deva's village is submerged his family's decades old cultivation on slopes of Vinadhyas have survived, he claims.He says that is being encroached on by outsiders.

He adds, "When we went back to claim our own land, the police drove us out."

Gujarat government's official P K Laheri claimed recently that around Rs 2,000 crore has been spent on rehabilitation of displaced persons and no other state offered as much as the Gujarat government is offering.
But on the footpath of Jantar Mantar there are scores of displaced persons who claim that the Centre and state governments' claims are bogus.

Clifton says, "Out of 177 villages that are going to submerged in MP, 40 villages have not even been taken into account. What do you do then?"
It is significant to note that NBA is not emphasising the issue of big dams right now. NBA is fiercely opposed to the concept of big dams as an agent for development. But now, they have understood the gravity of the situation and are asking for reasonable rehabilitation.

Their leaders from villages narrate innumerable incidents where corruption, government's apathy and bureaucratic insensitivity have wreaked havoc in villagers' lives.

An activist of NBA said, "The government is denying justice to more than 40,000 people. There are no TV cameras and no media attention on us because this is a real issue of the developing India."

Link (http://ia.rediff.com/news/2006/apr/03narmada.htm?q=tp&file=.htm)

[sarv_shaktimaan]

if I was PM....I would have her forcefully fed and then throw her out of the country (beggardesh wud be a good choice)...

[desichacha]

guys..normally u know i am all for development but in this case..it is bit genuine problem she is fighting for..

GOVT does not have plan for 32000 displaced families..which is bad sir....
think about it...power plans to bloody give power to code monkey factories ( software companie's so called R&D departments in India)...by displacing so many people is not right

[2gud]

Medha Patkar on strike, critical

Miss Tree-hugger Green activist is in critical condition. Why does she not get it? We need power plants and dams and all such infrastructure for growing our economy and helping people enjoy the fruits of electricity.

I sincerely wish Ms. Patkar well and hope that she stops this hunger fast and gets well soon. Her death will really amount to nothing but a few moments in media frenzy over Narmada dam and thats about it.

Anyway, just reporting the news....

I'm skeptical about your view that she is doing all this for nothing useful. A conviction so strong as to sacrifice one's own life to a cause, doesn't come if the person does not believe in what she/he is doing. Did you give a thought about the plight of the displaced people? Do you have and care about that side of the story too?

[viking]

:mad: guys..normally u know i am all for development but in this case..it is bit genuine problem she is fighting for..

GOVT does not have plan for 32000 displaced families..which is bad sir....
think about it...power plans to bloody give power to code monkey factories ( software companie's so called R&D departments in India)...by displacing so many people is not right

What poor do you talk about? The same ass.holes who vote in the name of caste? Kaangress ka haath aam admi ke saath. Agar woh haath ab nahi kaam ayega toh kab ayega? Let these guys get displaced and vote for Kangress. These guys are born only for reproducing and voting. Their non productive existance should not deny us our right to electricity and a better infrastructure!


As per the law, all the concerned state governments are required to ensure that every single affected family is resettled at least six months before submergence, offering equivalent cultivable land and resettling them sites provided with all civic amenities.


Now these guys are not moving because they complain about infrastructure is it? How ironical!

Are these cheap shit villagers getting displaced from New York??:rolleyes:

[desichacha]

u seem to be too focused on development for big cities...see point is simple...we are nation of poor people and we need to take care of them...otherwise widespread crime in big cities ( like Newyork from 1925-1980) will plagarize lives of u kind of people onlye

[chando]

:mad:

What poor do you talk about? The same ass.holes who vote in the name of caste? Kaangress ka haath aam admi ke saath. Agar woh haath ab nahi kaam ayega toh kab ayega? Let these guys get displaced and vote for Kangress. These guys are born only for reproducing and voting. Their non productive existance should not deny us our right to electricity and a better infrastructure!



Now these guys are not moving because they complain about infrastructure is it? How ironical!

Are these cheap shit villagers getting displaced from New York??:rolleyes:


just because u have a few dollars in your bank does not mean you can abuse poor people. If the govt. is serious about this. they have to compensate them. They should see value in moving out. Govt. has no right to uproot people. be it for any reason.

developement of people should not be at the cost of others.

[DeeMan]

Please make sure that no one feeds her anything. Let her die and put an end to this nuisance, once in for all.

[echarcha]

We ned electricity and water for irrigation. Government does not have enough funds to build both - dam and settlements for people. What do you choose?

[sarv_shaktimaan]

just because u have a few dollars in your bank does not mean you can abuse poor people. If the govt. is serious about this. they have to compensate them. They should see value in moving out. Govt. has no right to uproot people. be it for any reason.

developement of people should not be at the cost of others.
wat senti dialogue...straight outta some classic hindi movie...

[echarcha]

just because u have a few dollars in your bank does not mean you can abuse poor people. If the govt. is serious about this. they have to compensate them. They should see value in moving out. Govt. has no right to uproot people. be it for any reason.

developement of people should not be at the cost of others.

The government does nothing for helping infrastrucutre in rural areas. So you see thousands coming to Mumbai everyday from all emote places. This time why dont these Narmada affected people go to Calcutta for a change? They can go there and dirty up Calcutta more just like the tons of rural folks who come to Mumbai or Delhi or some big metro.

Yaar, its a chicken and egg problem - Unless there is electricity there will be no money for development. If no money then no development and no dam.

I understand your sentiments, but I would like the CPI party to be hosts to the affected Narmada people. Let them find a solution for progress, electricity and irrigation water without displacing these affected people.

I think government is more apathetic towards Narmada Dam due to Medha Patkar. Unless there is a public outrage like the JEssica Lall case there is no action. When just one person like Medha Patkar or Teesta Setalvad make a noise, they become irritants. Atleast this is what one can conclude from observing the government actions over protests in the past.

So Narmada people should get on trains and reach new Delhi and stage a huge dharna at India Gate. Maybe Sonia ji will help.

[BKN]

We ned electricity and water for irrigation. Government does not have enough funds to build both - dam and settlements for people. What do you choose?

What is the DAM for???

benefit of people in long run..right.
This doesn't mean the the lives of people living today should be just not taken care about. I the damn is for country, then a country is not made without its society!!! Those poor people are not asking more than what they have right now..

This is same as if the Older people in family are sick, then let us kill them so that the expenses can go to the younger ones for their developement..

[BKN]

Please make sure that no one feeds her anything. Let her die and put an end to this nuisance, once in for all.

Shouldn't we do the same for ADWANI.be cause of whose some funny Yatra..lot of people from both communities were dead!!!

At least Patkar hasn't been a reason for killing a life..but it is all about saving those poor. Govt can't just look the otherway, Govt is for the People and not to Kill people

[echarcha]

Shouldn't we do the same for ADWANI.be cause of whose some funny Yatra..lot of people from both communities were dead!!!

At least Patkar hasn't been a reason for killing a life..but it is all about saving those poor. Govt can't just look the otherway, Govt is for the People and not to Kill people

I understand your sentiments, btu BKN, my theory is correct to a large extent. Only when a large crowd with no specific leader expresses outrage and the media covers it, then the government does something. Recent example - Jessica Lal murder case verdict.

When any one leader champions the cause then the government and general public lose interest. Recent example - Medha Patkar. Older example - G.R. Khairnar , T.N. Sheshan.

[tantric_yogi]

guys..normally u know i am all for development but in this case..it is bit genuine problem she is fighting for..

GOVT does not have plan for 32000 displaced families..which is bad sir....
think about it...power plans to bloody give power to code monkey factories ( software companie's so called R&D departments in India)...by displacing so many people is not right

BhaYa ... I agree with you on that one. To leave thousands of families begging to survive is not worth the development ... we know all about corrupt Indian officials.

Beside ... about time ... Indians wake up to nature conservation. India is bursting to the seams with population. Last time I visited India ... wood we took for granted is so rare that all building materials are being made of metals and plastics.

I dont know of lady's political affiliations but if she is doing this to keep thousands of families from hunger, and nature conservation ... :up: God bless her ... we need few more million heroines like her.

[echarcha]

So when do we let a few suffer so that many enjoy the fruits of progress? When do we corss that line?

[AmthaLal]

Kal maine newz mai dekhaa,

Pulis iss budhiyaa ko pakad ke le gayi raat ke andhere mai aur AIIMs mai daalke nibu-paani pilaa diya. Ab achhi khaasi ghode jaisi ho gayi.

Kuchh din ke baad fir se upwaas chaalu kar de gi.:D

Gadhede hai dilli ke puliswaale.
Marne denaa thaa naa usku. Hameshaa ke liye shaanti ho jaati.
Uske marne ke baad uske supportero ko khush karne ke liye kahi koi chaar raste pe statue fatue banaa daalnekaa.;) Loko bhi khush, budhiyaa bhi swarag mai khush.
Naa paani ki maaraa maari..naa light ki. naa politisiyano ki tu-tu-mai-mai.
kissa khatam.:D Ane des ki pragati aage .

Jor lagaake .....:smash:

[tantric_yogi]

So when do we let a few suffer so that many enjoy the fruits of progress? When do we corss that line?

NEVER ... not till many are willing to share fruits of progress with the suffering few.

Indian government officials, public servants are not known for compassion ... Bipin Kumar Kolhapuri (BKN) thread comes to mind ... UN slap.

[DeeMan]

just because u have a few dollars in your bank does not mean you can abuse poor people. If the govt. is serious about this. they have to compensate them. They should see value in moving out. Govt. has no right to uproot people. be it for any reason.

developement of people should not be at the cost of others.

Well to tell you a fact, these ppl whom we are considering as poor and simple are not so simple. My dad worked of Coal India Ltd and when they had to open a new coal mine they used to buy land from the village ppl and give them proper replacement and also a job in the coal industry. What these simple ppl did was wasted the money and sold the newly given land and sat on a strike saying that there has been foul play.
Trust me, I feel bad about them being dislocated but I have seen the place where these ppl from Sardar Sarovar dam are being relocated.

[tantric_yogi]

Well to tell you a fact, these ppl whom we are considering as poor and simple are not so simple. My dad worked of Coal India Ltd and when they had to open a new coal mine they used to buy land from the village ppl and give them proper replacement and also a job in the coal industry. What these simple ppl did was wasted the money and sold the newly given land and sat on a strike saying that there has been foul play.
Trust me, I feel bad about them being dislocated but I have seen the place where these ppl from Sardar Sarovar dam are being relocated.

Sir, I'll pretend to have not read your reply. Difficult task to make silver spoons understand plight of Indian poor ... not till they know what it is to be dislocated from ancestoral lands ... to be at the mercy of Indian public servants. I wish you well.

In vain you try to compare actions of a money making corporation with those of government.

[DeeMan]

Sir, I'll pretend to have not read your reply. Difficult task to make silver spoons understand plight of Indian poor ... not till they know what it is to be dislocated from ancestoral lands ... to be at the mercy of Indian public servants. I wish you well.

In vain you try to compare actions of a money making corporation with those of government.

I seriously couldn't understand your point. Are you trying to say that I am one of those who had a silver spoon in his mouth right from birth then you are wrong. And what money making corporation are you talking about...can you please elaborate.

[tantric_yogi]

I seriously couldn't understand your point. Are you trying to say that I am one of those who had a silver spoon in his mouth right from birth then you are wrong. And what money making corporation are you talking about...can you please elaborate.

Sirji, with all due respects.

Silver spoons= born rich ... seth log sitting on cushions ... ministers ... public servants.

Money making corporation= coal mine.

I'm not saying poor are not to be blamed for being guillible enough to fall under the influence of henchmen of politicians in power or opposition.

When someone stands up for the rights of less influencial ... we need to support and encourage.

[DeeMan]

Sirji, with all due respects.

Silver spoons= born rich ... seth log sitting on cushions ... ministers ... public servants.

Money making corporation= coal mine.

I'm not saying poor are not to be blamed for being guillible enough to fall under the influence of henchmen of politicians in power or opposition.

When someone stands up for the rights of less influencial ... we need to support and encourage.

Coal India is surely a money making corporation but its solely owned by GOI. They compensate nicely, I have seen it happen and also heard it from my Dad too.
This project 'Sardar Sarovar' is going to affect 3 states, Gujrat, Maharashtra and MP. Guj and MP I guess have the max area of submergance. Yes its true that she stands up for poor people, but there are other things/issues on which she should speak up but she keeps mum, WHY?

[rationalthinker]

BKNs diatribe against Advani reminds me of that ubiquitious sentence we would have to 'analize' in school:The Puritans hated bear-baiting not because it caused pain to the animal but because it gave pleasure to the spectators!
I think, in the same vein, one could say that the secularists hate Advani not because it pleases the Muslims but because he offers hope (of dignity and equality) to the Hindus!
Anyway "Chandan gaya vides rey, Sab koi samajhyo Palas;Jetyo chulhai Jhokiyon tetow adhikon baas!
As for Medhaji, she's fighting not just for the 32000 odd affected families but also for their right to illegally fell teak and Khair trees, offer 'moral and material' support to the Naxalites, for the beureucrats who siphon off money 'allocated' for providing free food etc.. for the 'poor neglected' adivasis, and when some of their children(born by the dozens) inevitably and inexorably die of hunger (because their 'lifestyle' based on 'forest produce' is pure humbug---the forests are hopelessly inadequate to support their burgeoning numbers),for all the 'media folks' who visit these areas 'neglected by the callous Govts..' right from independence (no tar roads,no clean drinking water, no industries,no airport etc..),and sundry others like Arundhatti Roy who make a name for themselves by showering vituperatives on the 'authorities'!
To these bozos it doesn't matter that the Govt. hasn't got money to spend on productive regions (like Mumbai),that losing out on a few acres of unproductive land in the mountains for increased reliable productivity downstream(albeit in a diff. state, would sustain more lives more assuredly eventually,that the 'tribal' lifestyle is an anachronism in these days of synthetics and processed foods (which,ironically,the tribals themselves prefer if they have access to these'trappings').
As for the Govt's. poor record in rehabiliting these 'poor' folks--they must vote more diligently! After all India is a democracy, and in a democracy the buck always stops with the people!

[28virgo]

NEW DELHI: In a careful order which addresses differing viewpoints on the Sardar Sarovar Project, the Supreme Court on Monday gave go-ahead to raising height of the dam while noting that if rehabilitation does not proceed apace, it could stop work at the project site.

The ongoing work to raise the dam’s height — as ordered by the Narmada Control Authority — will continue, at least till May 1, the apex court indicated. But it issued a warning that it "will have no option but to stop raising of the height"if the dam 'oustees'have not been fully rehabilitated.

Arundhati Roy, social activist Swami Agnivesh and former MP Kuldip Nayar were present in support of the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), which is opposing construction. Summing up the anti-dam mood after the SC order, Roy told TOI that "no one is ready"to discharge their obligations.

"It is unfortunate that everybody is batting the issue — the SC and the PM — though the major share of the blame would lie with the PM,"she said.

In the evening, NBA leader Medha Patkar, spearheading the anti-dam stir, called off her 20-day-long hunger strike, but said their struggle for a "just cause"would continue. Expressing satisfaction over the SC order, Gujarat CM Narendra Modi, who had gone on a hunger strike on Sunday evening to press for raising the dam’s height, also ended his fast in Ahmedabad. Officials said some 18,000 people will be displaced in this phase.

The ruling came as a major relief for the Centre. It had initially been in favour of stopping work — its ministerial team had filed a negative report on rehabilitation — but in SC it junked the findings of its own ministers.

The order was welcomed by Gujarat CM Narendra Modi while disappointing the NBA. The 'secular divide'that has often crept into the Narmada controversy was evident with Patkar making references to Modi’s 'role'in the 2002 Gujarat riots.

Under a 2000 SC ruling which dismissed an NDA writ challenging viability of the SSP, the court had said that in case of a dispute, the PM would play arbitrator. On Monday too, the SC said that pendency of the issue would not preclude PM Manmohan Singh from taking "steps and initiatives"to resolve the controversy. But as of now, the Centre would be relieved at the SC bailing it out.

Just how politically loaded the Narmada issue is could be gauged by additional solicitor-general Gopal Subramaniam repeating six times that the PM was not in favour of stoppage of work. "We are for the dam. The state of Gujarat need not be concerned. The Centre’s application is not to scuttle the project,"he said.
The Centre sought the court’s permission to allow the PM to set up a "suitable mechanism to undertake a review of measures taken so far by Madhya Pradesh and ensure rehabilitation of project-affected families (PAFs) within three months.’’

The PM could act in accordance with the judgments of the court in 2000 and 2005, said a Bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justices K G Balakrishnan and S B Sinha while seeking replies from MP and Gujarat on the issue of rehabilitation of 'oustees.'

The court had previously made it clear that any work to raise the dam’s height could be undertaken only if PAFs have been fully rehabilitated. But it also said staying work at the site was "the absolute last resort"and should not be resorted to without ascertaining ground reality.

Fixing May 1 for further hearing of an application filed by NBA seeking stay on construction activity to raise the dam height from 110.64m to 121.92m, the Bench warned it would have no option but to stop work if "oustees"have not been fully rehabilitated.

NBA based its arguments largely on a recent report of the group of ministers — comprising Saifuddin Soz, Meira Kumar and Prithviraj Chavan — trashing rehabilitation work carried out by MP. The report was disputed by the governments of MP and Gujarat.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1493960.cms

[echarcha]

Ha ha ha ha ha...

Arundhati biyatch Roy is in the limelight again. That lady needs to insert herself so badly into the limelight every time :rotfl:

Kuldip Nayar.. another chewtiya.. did not nothing good as an MP and now out to preach the masses! :rotfl:

Medha PAtkar got a good needed diet at the cost of national press and media attention :rotfl:

Supreme Court - bunch of morons who cannot decide what they want to do with the dam. Damn! (pardon the bad pun) :rotfl:

Viva Le China!! China deserves to progress ahead as a manufacturing and electrical power rich new economy!!! :up:

[King]

Progress will have it's pains. Do these people want the tribals to remain as they are today or do they want the lives of tribals also to be improved? This is all unnecessary stunt.

This stupid communist mentality of robbing the rich to feed the poor will ensure that everyone in India will remain poor.

As asked in the following blog..who is thinking of the tribals/villager/farmers who are affected by drought every year ? Who is thinking of the scores of poor people who will benefit immensly from the power generated by such projects?

http://o3.indiatimes.com/gujarat_dam

Urban people pay all the taxes, and nothing stops the rural people coming to the cities and find work or just screw the city completely. So why should not the urban people also get some benefit from the tribal lands?

Also it is not always as straight forward as it seems. I agree that the people have to be compensated completely but many times in our biased stance against the more well-to-do (I think we get this stupid mentality from all the junk movies we see where the heroes are always poor and the villians the rich) we generally assume that the poor are innocent and can do no wrong. They are also greedy like everyone else and will use the oppurtunity to demand more.

I am glad that the supreme court has permitted this to be built while making sure that the people displaced are aptly compensated.

[tantric_yogi]

This problem is so easy to solve ... it needs two pronged stretegee attek.

1. Hire couple of guys from Coolbhai's Mumbai giglo threads ... send them to Arunabai and Phatkerbai to phado them ... it has been some time since they were happily pharoed.

2. Send one Poker player of Lohpurush Valabhabhai's stature to talk to the miserable few directly effected by the project. Here is our final proposal, sign on the dotted line and leave within 24 hours or else army is just few miles away waiting.

Another problem solved. Arunduttabai happy ... Phatker kee happliy phategi finally ... Narmada project on the way to completion. Those few chewtiyaas landless will now be begging on the streets ... who gives a shit.

[Sane Less]

This problem is so easy to solve ... it needs two pronged stretegee attek.

1. Hire couple of guys from Coolbhai's Mumbai giglo threads ... send them to Arunabai and Phatkerbai to phado them ... it has been some time since they were happily pharoed.

2. Send one Poker player of Lohpurush Valabhabhai's stature to talk to the miserable few directly effected by the project. Here is our final proposal, sign on the dotted line and leave within 24 hours or else army is just few miles away waiting.

Another problem solved. Arunduttabai happy ... Phatker kee happliy phategi finally ... Narmada project on the way to completion. Those few chewtiyaas landless will now be begging on the streets ... who gives a shit.

O Tanatani pai... you are the one... you see everything so straight... the government is doing exactly what you are suggesting but in reverse... it is screwing the people and sending poker players to talk to Medha Patkar :(
they need somebody like you... up there... to set things straight :)

[viking]

Now that this old witch has ended her fast can someone give her an award and an international one? So that she does not irritate us again?

PS How can humans stay hungry for 20 days on end?:rolleyes: Is this Medha Patkar a cow who chews on cud for many days?

[tantric_yogi]

PS How can humans stay hungry for 20 days on end?:rolleyes: Is this Medha Patkar a cow who chews on cud for many days?

Once you get past initial 24/30 hours ... if your health and vital organs permit ... 20 days is piece of cake. I myself have fasted for 60 hours couple of times ... just the water. After about 36 hours ... I had no craving for food. I broke the fast (took another day) not due to hunger.

Half way through to the hour I ended my fast ... something very strange happened ... my mind ... no cobwebs ... sharpness I have never felt before.

Some other time ...

[echarcha]

BKNs diatribe against Advani reminds me of that ubiquitious sentence we would have to 'analize' in school:The Puritans hated bear-baiting not because it caused pain to the animal but because it gave pleasure to the spectators!
I think, in the same vein, one could say that the secularists hate Advani not because it pleases the Muslims but because he offers hope (of dignity and equality) to the Hindus!
Anyway "Chandan gaya vides rey, Sab koi samajhyo Palas;Jetyo chulhai Jhokiyon tetow adhikon baas!
As for Medhaji, she's fighting not just for the 32000 odd affected families but also for their right to illegally fell teak and Khair trees, offer 'moral and material' support to the Naxalites, for the beureucrats who siphon off money 'allocated' for providing free food etc.. for the 'poor neglected' adivasis, and when some of their children(born by the dozens) inevitably and inexorably die of hunger (because their 'lifestyle' based on 'forest produce' is pure humbug---the forests are hopelessly inadequate to support their burgeoning numbers),for all the 'media folks' who visit these areas 'neglected by the callous Govts..' right from independence (no tar roads,no clean drinking water, no industries,no airport etc..),and sundry others like Arundhatti Roy who make a name for themselves by showering vituperatives on the 'authorities'!
To these bozos it doesn't matter that the Govt. hasn't got money to spend on productive regions (like Mumbai),that losing out on a few acres of unproductive land in the mountains for increased reliable productivity downstream(albeit in a diff. state, would sustain more lives more assuredly eventually,that the 'tribal' lifestyle is an anachronism in these days of synthetics and processed foods (which,ironically,the tribals themselves prefer if they have access to these'trappings').
As for the Govt's. poor record in rehabiliting these 'poor' folks--they must vote more diligently! After all India is a democracy, and in a democracy the buck always stops with the people!

I always look forward to your responses :up:

Progress will have it's pains. Do these people want the tribals to remain as they are today or do they want the lives of tribals also to be improved? This is all unnecessary stunt.

This stupid communist mentality of robbing the rich to feed the poor will ensure that everyone in India will remain poor.

As asked in the following blog..who is thinking of the tribals/villager/farmers who are affected by drought every year ? Who is thinking of the scores of poor people who will benefit immensly from the power generated by such projects?

http://o3.indiatimes.com/gujarat_dam

Urban people pay all the taxes, and nothing stops the rural people coming to the cities and find work or just screw the city completely. So why should not the urban people also get some benefit from the tribal lands?

Also it is not always as straight forward as it seems. I agree that the people have to be compensated completely but many times in our biased stance against the more well-to-do (I think we get this stupid mentality from all the junk movies we see where the heroes are always poor and the villians the rich) we generally assume that the poor are innocent and can do no wrong. They are also greedy like everyone else and will use the oppurtunity to demand more.

I am glad that the supreme court has permitted this to be built while making sure that the people displaced are aptly compensated.

King, ever since I could understand things around me as a kid, I learnt one big lesson shoved down my throat in a subtle fashion - Poor are hapless and innocent. Poverty is good and gaining riches is always a crime and moneyed people always do something crooked to get the money. All the movies, TV serials, Gandhi's statements like Eat less Drink less and such innumerable SOcialist Communist nonsense pervades our mentality.

As I said before - vive le China!